Andrew Ng is leaving Baidu after three years as it chief scientist in what is expected to be a huge setback for the Chinese tech group's artificial intelligence efforts. The departure is the second instance of a high-profile foreign hire leaving a Chinese company this year. Ng announced on Wednesday that he will be leaving the firm in April via a post on Medium. The departure could prove a significant blow to Baidu which is increasingly focused on AI. Earlier this year CEO Robin Li described the technology as the search giant's "key strategic focus for the next decade". The firm also scrapped its medical department to focus further on AI last month.

Andrew Ng is leaving Baidu after three years as it chief scientist in what is expected to be a huge setback for the Chinese tech group's artificial intelligence efforts. The departure is the second instance of a high-profile foreign hire leaving a Chinese company this year. Ng announced on Wednesday that he will be leaving the firm in April via a post on Medium. The departure could prove a significant blow to Baidu which is increasingly focused on AI. Earlier this year CEO Robin Li described the technology as the search giant's "key strategic focus for the next decade". The firm also scrapped its medical department to focus further on AI last month.